OFFSEASON AGENDA

Considering the impact (.362 average, 44 RBIs in 61 regular season games; the World Series-winning hit) he had on the team after a July trade, Marco Scutaro is a top priority for the Giants. The NLCS MVP is a free agent and has the same love for the Giants that they have for him. But because he is 37, a new deal isn’t likely to be more than a few seasons at most.

Other than that, one of the team’s priorities is to sit down with catcher Buster Posey and righthander Tim Lincecum. And part of both conversations will involve the other player.

For Posey, manager Bruce Bochy will emphasize being a teamwide leader, even if it means coddling some players and chastising others when necessary. One of the theories for why Posey didn’t catch Lincecum for most of the season was that Lincecum needed to be coddled at times and Posey didn't want to do that. Bochy likely will tell Posey he can’t pick and choose who he leads and must adapt to his clubhouse’s needs.

The conversations with Lincecum will touch on his relationship with Posey, but the focus will be on his poor 2012 season and how he plans to improve in 2013. The Giants also have to reiterate to Lincecum, who can be sensitive, that they consider him a starter. However, the coaching staff knows that if his struggles bleed into next season, they might need to move Lincecum back to the bullpen, where he excelled during the postseason.

Still, this isn’t a contest in morality or integrity. The Giants know that better than most organizations. They can buy low on Cabrera and if he is sincere about trying to clean up his image (forfeiting the NL batting title was a nice start), he will sign a team-friendly deal to prove he deserves a better one next winter. It might not work, but San Francisco should try to guilt Cabrera into such an agreement.

General manager Brian Sabean will have to decide if Pagan is worth to them what he will command on the open market (likely around $10 million a season). The Giants will have plenty of competition for his services.

The team also would like to bring back lefthanded reliever Jeremy Affeldt. But the Los Angeles Dodgers’ decision to give reliever Brandon League a three-year, $22.5 million contract might have put Affeldt out of the Giants’ price range.

EARLY 2013 OUTLOOK

If the Giants re-sign Scutaro, their infield will be set. The outfield and bullpen are a little more uncertain. Their starting pitching again should be strong, with or without Lincecum. San Francisco and Los Angeles are the clear favorites in the NL West.